Frederick Henry-Ajudua is a Nigerian-American elite athlete, national champion and international rugby player. A former NFL minicamp participant with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he later won multiple national championships with Atlanta Old White Rugby Club. He represents Nigeria internationally in rugby and advocates for grassroots sports development, diaspora-athlete integration, private-sector investment and stronger sports governance. His focus is on building sustainable pathways for Nigerian athletes to compete and succeed globally. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, he spoke about his journey in professional football, reflecting on how working at a stadium with his uncle, selling NCCU merchandise, shaped his ambition to become a player. He also discussed his two-year stint with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the lessons professional football taught him beyond college. Excerpts:
Take us back to your first encounter with NCCU football. What convinced you to pursue American football despite having no experience in the sport?
My first encounter with NCCU football was really an encounter with its culture. I watched the players, fans and band and saw the energy surrounding the programme. Coming from Nigeria, my sporting background was soccer, so American football was completely new to me. But I saw a sense of family, pride and opportunity. I remember thinking, ‘I want to be part of this.’ I did not know exactly how I would get there, but I knew I wanted to try. Sometimes you may not have the experience, but you can have the vision. That was the beginning for me.
You were working at the stadium with your uncle, selling NCCU merchandise. How did that experience influence your ambition to become a player?
Working at the stadium gave me a front-row view of what I wanted to become. While I was selling merchandise, I was watching the players arrive, prepare for games and represent the university.
I would look at them and think, ‘One day, I want to be out there.’ I was not simply looking at the job as a source of income; I was using the opportunity to understand the environment and what it meant to be an Eagle.
Being on the sidelines made me more determined. I could see the opportunity, but I also understood that I had to work for it.
You and your brother committed to 5 a.m. gym sessions every day. What drove that level of discipline?
We knew we were behind. We had not grown up playing American football, so talent alone would not be enough. We had to compensate for the experience we lacked. Those 5 a.m. sessions were about discipline. We wanted to become stronger, faster and better prepared each day. We were learning a new sport, so we could not approach it casually.
There were difficult mornings, but we kept reminding ourselves that we had an opportunity many people would want. We did not want to waste it. That discipline became the foundation for everything that followed.
NCCU selected five players from about 60 participants during a tryout for non-traditional players. What do you remember about that moment?
The tryout was when everything became real. We had prepared and hoped for an opportunity, but now we had to prove that we belonged.
About 60 people tried out and only five were selected. Being one of those five was a major moment for me. I was grateful, but I also understood that making the team was only the beginning. For my brother and me, it was particularly significant because we had worked towards the opportunity together. It showed us that preparation can create opportunities, even when you do not have the traditional background.
You initially wanted to become a kicker because of your soccer background but were moved to defence. How difficult was that transition?
Coming from soccer, I initially thought kicking would be the easiest way to transition into football. I understood the ball, movement and some of the skills involved. Moving to defence, however, meant learning an entirely different side of the game. I had to understand technique, positioning, assignments and physicality.
It was challenging because everything was new. But it taught me an important lesson: sometimes the opportunity you want is not necessarily the opportunity meant for you. You have to be willing to adapt. Moving to defence changed my career. It taught me to trust the process and remain open to becoming something I had not originally planned.
Your first year came with limited playing time. How did you turn that period into an opportunity for development?
My first year was a learning year. I was not getting the playing time I wanted, but I understood why. I was still learning the game, the system and what it meant to compete at that level. I learned to be patient and prepare even when nobody was watching. I studied the older players, watched film, worked on my technique and learned from every opportunity.
That period taught me that development does not always happen in front of a crowd. Sometimes the most important work happens when you are not playing. I used that time to build the foundation for the player I wanted to become.
By your senior year, you had become a starter, First-Team All-MEAC and an All-American. What changed?
The major turning point was understanding the game. Early on, I relied heavily on my athletic ability while trying to catch up with the technical side. As I learned the system, studied film and understood my assignments, the game began to slow down for me. I also became more confident in my preparation. I knew I had done the work and that I belonged on the field. By my senior year, I was no longer simply trying to make the team. I was focused on helping the team win. Becoming First-Team All-MEAC and an All-American was a blessing, but it also reflected the work invested over those years.
You recorded three sacks against Bethune-Cookman and later received an NFL camp invitation from the Jacksonville Jaguars. How important were those moments?
They were significant because they showed me that my work was translating against a higher level of competition. Bethune-Cookman had a talented team, and recording three sacks gave me confidence that I could compete against some of the best players in college football.
The Jacksonville Jaguars camp invitation provided another level of confirmation. It made professional football feel less like a dream and more like a realistic career path. Those experiences gave me the confidence that I belonged in that conversation.
You then spent two years with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. What did professional football teach you that college had not?
Professional football taught me that the margin for error is very small. In college, you are developing and learning. At the professional level, everyone is talented, strong and competing to keep their position.
Consistency becomes critical. You have to take care of your body, understand your assignments and prepare every day. A good performance the previous week does not guarantee anything the following week. It also taught me that professionalism extends beyond the field. How you conduct yourself, treat people and respond to challenges matters. Those two years helped me grow not only as a football player but also as a person.
NCCU went on to win three consecutive MEAC championships, while the 2016 victory over North Carolina A and T sent the team to the national championship. What made that team successful?
We believed in one another. We had talent, but talent alone does not win championships. We had leadership, discipline and a commitment to doing our jobs. Everyone understood their role. Whether you were a starter, a backup or contributing in another capacity, you mattered.
Winning three consecutive MEAC championships was significant because it demonstrated consistency. It was not simply one successful season; it was a standard we built together. Personally, it was especially meaningful because I had gone from watching NCCU football from the stadium to representing the university on the field. Being part of a championship team is something I will always be grateful for.
You also recorded a solo sack against North Carolina A and T in that historic rivalry game. What does that moment represent today?
It represents preparation, confidence and the ability to perform when the stakes are high.
The rivalry with North Carolina A and T carries a lot of emotion, pride and history. Making a play in that environment is something I will always remember.
But when I look back, I do not just remember the sack. I remember the early mornings, practices, film study and the people who helped me get there.
It reminds me that preparation gives you the confidence to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Ten years later, the NCCU team has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. What does that recognition mean to you?
It means a great deal. When I consider where I started, watching the team from the stadium and wondering whether I could ever be part of it, the recognition is particularly meaningful. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame with that team is an honour. It recognises the work we put in, the championships we won and the impact that group had on NCCU football.
But it is also a reminder that the journey is bigger than one individual. I had teammates, coaches, family and others who believed in me.
I am grateful to be part of that history and proud that our team is being recognised.
Your journey from soccer in Nigeria to American college football and professional football highlights the transferability of athletic talent. What does it say about Nigeria’s untapped sporting potential?
My experience shows that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not always equally available.
I came from Nigeria with athletic ability and the desire to compete, but I had to learn an entirely different sport. That experience showed me that athletes can adapt when they have the right environment, coaching and support.
Nigeria has many talented athletes who may never discover what they are capable of in another sporting discipline. Sometimes the talent exists, but the pathway does not.
We need to look beyond traditional sporting backgrounds and give athletes opportunities to explore different disciplines. My journey shows that sometimes the athlete you are looking for is already there; you simply have to give that person a chance.
Nigeria continues to face challenges around talent identification, grassroots development, coaching, facilities and funding. What can it learn from the American college sports model?
One of the biggest lessons is the importance of creating a clear pathway for athletes.
The American college sports system gives athletes an opportunity to develop their talent while pursuing an education. It combines structure, competition, coaching and a platform through which athletes can be identified.
Nigeria can learn from this by investing in grassroots programmes, developing qualified coaches and creating opportunities for athletes to compete at different levels.
Talent identification also needs to improve. We should not only look for athletes who already have a traditional sporting background. We should identify athletic ability, work ethic, discipline and potential.
My own journey demonstrates what can happen when someone is given an opportunity and the support required to develop.
If Nigeria wants to build a sports industry capable of producing globally competitive athletes while creating sustainable economic opportunities, what needs to change?
We need to build a system designed not just to discover athletes but to develop them.
That means stronger grassroots programmes, better facilities, qualified coaches and consistent competition. Talent must be identified early and supported over time.
Sports administration also needs to improve. There must be accountability, transparency and a long-term vision. Athletes should understand what opportunities exist and how they can progress from one level to another.
Most importantly, we need to recognise sports as an industry. It can create jobs, build businesses, attract investment and provide young people with opportunities beyond simply playing a sport.
Nigeria has the talent. What we need is the structure, investment and commitment to turn that talent into sustainable success.
If we build that system, we will not only produce better athletes; we will create opportunities for an entire generation.